About Me

Thursday, August 31, 2017

On a collaborative pairing i never would have even dreamed of, artist and troublemaker Father John Misty gets the remix treatment from dark and droney producer The Haxan Cloak, with the latter turning the former's treatise on a post-apocalyptic world, the wonderfully titled "Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution," into something even darker. And it works like gangbusters. Watch Matthew Daniel Siskin's nightmarish video for the remix below, a dread inducing collage of stock footage, current events, revelry, and garbage.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've got to be in the right mood to listen to Kurt Vile (though i do think he's great), and i've never really given Courtney Barnett much thought to be honest, but the two artists have made a record together, and from the first single, "Over Everything," it seems like a pairing that's long overdue. The song is folky, spacey, stoner kind of jam, and i've got to admit i'm pretty into it. Watch the persona-swapped video below and get the album from Milk! Records in October.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

He had hinted at new music on the way, and now we know that John Maus's new album "Screen Memories" will be out at the end of October on Ribbon Music. Hooray! Anyway, check out the lo-fi, psychedelic video for "The Combine" below, a dark and synthy song about getting chopped up by a combine harvester. Sweet.

Monday, August 28, 2017

Remember last week Thee Oh Sees, now known as just Oh Sees, released their 19th album "Orc?" Yeah. It was pretty awesome. Well, the band has already announced a follow up album...and another name change. November's "Memory of a Cut Off Head" finds that band going back to the original moniker used on their first release, just plain old OCS. The album also marks a whole slew of anniversaries, the band's 20th release, their 20th year, and John Dwyer's Castle Face Records' 100th release. May the celebration boogie begin. Listen to the title track below and be sure to get the record in November.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Responsible for 2 of my all time favorite films, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Poltergeist" respectively, i will always fondly remember Tobe Hooper as a master of genre filmmaking. I may have to sneak in a viewing tonight after the boys go to bed. RIP Tobe Hooper.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

LA psych rock band The Allah-Las have an EP of covers headed our way in November courtesy of Mexican Summer. Tackling tracks from George Harrison, Television, and Further, the record looks to comb through a variety of influences. The band also take a stab at forgotten folk-country artist Kathy Heideman's "The Earth Won't Hold Me," and it's a fantastic, dusty and sun-fried little psychedelic jam. Listen below.

Friday, August 25, 2017

I have never really been very comfortable with any kind of self-promotion. It's hard. It feels weird. And i guess i just don't take compliments very well. Anyway, i made a record. Not a physical one mind you, as i don't have the kind of scratch required to press anything to vinyl, but a little digital collection of songs i've had sitting in my head for a long time. Some of these were penned as far back as 2002, but for some reason or another, i just never got them down on tape (i guess i've been pretty busy). I wanted to change that. I needed to change that. So, during any of the free moments i've had over the last few months, an hour here or 30 minutes there, i've been recording in my bedroom. And this is what i've got. I'm naming the project Living Nudes and calling the record "My World Exploded." Normally i find it natural and easy to write about music, but when it's my own, i guess i'm at a loss. All in all, it's a lo-fi affair, and i hope you like it. Stream the whole thing below and download it here if you are so inclined.

Though he's been doing the primarily musician thing for a few years now, John Carpenter's filmography still weighs heavy, both in genre filmmaking and in film score composition. The number of artists and bands out there influenced by Carpenter's sleek and spooky synthesizer accompaniment are too numerous to even go into, hordes of musicians making their own faux soundtracks. And that's not even going into the many labels reissuing all of these old original soundtracks. Anyway, the good people at Sacred Bones are compiling many of Carpenter's movie themes into one collection, the aptly named "Anthology (Movie Themes 1974-1998)." This is a fantastic starting point for new fans, and another excellent and beautiful must-have for the old hats like myself. Get it in October and listen to the theme from "In the Mouth of Madness" below.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

As a member of Icelandic post rock band múm, Gyda Valtysdóttir has always made ethereal, dramatic, and ghostly music, and she continues to do so on her solo album, "Epicycle." Originally released as a limited CD in her home nation, the album is now getting a wide release courtesy of Figureight. It consists of the artist's usual flair for haunting, beautiful, and unusual, and dives into reinterpretations of ancient tomes and classical pieces of music. Listen to "Seikilos Epitaph" below and get the album in October.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Dallas music blog Gorilla Vs Bear is reporting that old Austin garage rock band (and one of my personal favorites from the last decade) Harlem are reuniting. That's awesome news. I haven't seen the band perform since 2010, but hopefully i'll be able to remedy that over the course of the next few months. Anyway, aside from getting the band back together, they also appear to be restarting their cover of the month project which they used to do way back in the Myspace era. Listen to spooky and warped lo-fi cover of Lana Del Rey's "Cola" below. Hooray!

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Aside from working with folks like Jacco Gardner and The Allah-Las, recording artist Frank Maston also releases music on his own, under the name Maston. New album "Tulips" comes across like some warped stew of 60's sunshine pop, old, dusty library sounds, and TV documentary soundtracks. Watch the video for "Swans" below and pre-order the LP from the artist's own Phonoscope imprint.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Did you guys here that there's an eclipse today? Of course you did. It's been kind of hard to miss. Anyway, in honor of that, Toronto band Absolutely Free released a pretty solid cover of The Walker Brothers' "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore," which you can listen to below and buy here. Enjoy.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Long the purveyors of obscure soul gems from around the world, Numero Group has really outdone themselves this time, with the upcoming compilation album of 1960's Toronto transgender artist Jackie Shane. "Any Other Way" compiles the artist's singles as well as live session from 1967 with the usual Numero attention to detail and sound. Given a lot of the current political climate, this music feels as important now as it probably was 50 years ago. Listen to "Cruel Cruel World" below and pre-order here.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Gothy, industrial-esque Detroit post punk band Ritual Howls are back next month with a new EP on Felte. On "Blood Red Moon," there's almost a dance thing going on, like some dour, but propulsive beat to send you into the grave. Listen below and pre-order the "Their Body" EP here.

Friday, August 18, 2017

Continuing their mission to release 5(!) albums this year, the nuts in Australian garage psych outfit King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard with their third record of 2017, a collaborative effort with Los Angeles band Mild High Club called "Sketches of Brunswick East." The album is available now for download and streaming via Flightless, and up for physical pre-order from ATO. Listen to "Countdown" below.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

I was fortunate enough to see Mike Patton/Dave Lombardo supergroup Dead Cross last night, and made sure to get there early enough to catch Secret Chiefs 3 as well...and...they melted my damn brain. I'm only familiar with some of their music, but seeing them live was something else entirely, only made more so by their proggy cover of John Carpenter's theme from "Halloween." Color me smitten. I going to have to deep dive into the band's catalog wholesale. Anyway, the song appears on the 2013 album "Book of Souls: Folio A," which you can get from Web of Mimicry, and you should definitely watch the video below.

Hey guys, it's Thursday, and as far as i know, we haven't descended into all out civil war yet, so here's some fractured, gloomy (yet dreamy) pop from Brooklyn's Grooms. Listen to "Turn Your Body" below and be sure to get the upcoming "Exit Index" LP in October on Western Vinyl.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Good news everyone, LCD Soundsystem released a new single from their upcoming return, the pulsing, electro-disco jam, "tonite." Watch the video for the song below and get new album "American Dream" on September 1st. That's just over two weeks away. Holy shit!

Shabazz Palaces put out one of my favorite songs of the year so far with "Shine A Light," from their "Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star" LP, and now they have an accompanying video. And whoa, what a video. Watch below and get the record (one of two the artists have released this year) from Sub Pop.

Experimental electronic artist Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith has a new album in the works, and here's a weird (and excellent) little track from it called "To Follow and Lead." Listen below and get the upcoming new record "The Kid" from Western Vinyl in October.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Ariel Pink's new album "Dedicated to Bobby Jameson" is out next month on Mexican Summer, and the artist has released another new track from the record, this time with the dreamy, 80's pop-tinged "Feels Like Heaven." It's an airy and floating little jam, a wistful post summer tune for sunsets. Listen below.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Following the events that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend that resulted in the death of 32-year old Heather Heyer at the hands of a white supremacist, noisy Detroit band Wolf Eyes have released a free experimental album called "No Hate" to help bolster the fundraising effort for a Go Fund Me campaign to aid Ms. Heyer's family. Listen to the whole thing below, download it here, and donate here.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

My methods of discovering new music over the years have remained relatively intact since i was a teenager (buying dollar bin stuff i've never heard of, record store clerk recommendations, music magazines, blogs, etc.), but they sure are taking the backseat lately, a result of the scores of wonderful bands and artists i find on Bandcamp. It's truly invaluable for someone like me. Anyway, this morning i came across a wonderful hybrid of post punk and surf rock from Chicago four-piece Ovef Ow. Listen to the chugging "Working Girl" below and get the "Working" EP here.

Melvins drummer Dale Crover just released a solo record, something that kind of feels like it was 30 years in the making. "The Fickle Finger of Fate" finds the artist swerving all over the place across 20 tracks and 30+ minutes, but feels the most at home on the grungier punk tracks. Listen to "Big Uns" below and cop the record from Joyful Noise.

Friday, August 11, 2017

I've been anticipating new music from Alice Glass ever since the artist's unamicable split from Crystal Castles, and her first solo single "Stillbirth" back in 2015. So, it's awesome that she's got a new single out, "Without Love." I certainly wasn't expecting it to be as poppy as it is, but i'm into it. Watch the video below.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Gothic/rockabilly/dark folk artist King Dude loves to rework his old songs into something new every now and again, and most recently, he tackled older tunes "In The Eyes of The Lord" and "Why Must I Go On." Originally from the 2011 album "Love," the single's A-side has been changed from an exotic, Gothic dirge into a dusty, dark country jam. Listen below and get it from Not Just Religious Music.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

I was unaware we had some new music from Destroyer in the pipeline, but lo and behold, we sure do. New album "ken" is due in October on Merge. Listen to the album's opening track and first single "Sky's Grey" below.

Could it be? New music from experimental synth pop musician John Maus on the horizon? It's certainly been a while (2011). Anyway, the artist just released a teaser video of sorts called "COUNTER STRIKE!" and a string of tour dates to boot, so maybe we have something to look forward to besides nuclear winter. Watch the video below.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

It's everywhere i look. "Twin Peaks" is everywhere i look. I'm not even trying. And most recently it presents itself in the new single from The Stargazer Lilies' upcoming album "Lost." The Lynchian named "Enter the Black Lodge" is a beautiful, ominous swirl of sound, every bit as intoxicating as its namesake. Listen below and pre-order the new album from Graveface here.

Monday, August 7, 2017

It's pretty safe to say that i've been on a bit of a "Twin Peaks" binge of late. Ever since the premiere of the season 3, "The Return," several weeks ago, i've been glued to my television every Sunday night, and filling in the rest of the week with articles, viewings of the original series, "Fire Walk With Me," and oh so many music cues. The music has all been fantastic, and true to all David Lynch's work, the ambient sound design in between songs is just as entrancing and important. And so we have "Anthology Resource Vol. 1" from Lynch collaborator Dean Hurley, a collection of ambient work that has appeared on "The Return." For Peaks obsessives, this is an essential listen, each piece of sound weaving its way into your brain and pulling you out. Stream the whole thing below and download it here from Sacred Bones.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Maybe the most abrasive thing i've heard this year, "Contempt," the new record from noisy New York metal band Couch Slut, is hard and brutal and rage-filled and...strangely beautiful too. Listen to "Folk Song" below and get the record from Gilead Media.

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Here's a soft and dreamy little jam from New York artist Soccer Mommy. There are a lot of songs about girls named Allison in this world. Here's another one. Watch the video below and get the "Collection" album from Fat Possum.

Friday, August 4, 2017

The Cribs are one of those bands that i've seen the name of a thousand times over the last several years, popping up on music blogs, or playing festival sets, but for some reason or another just never caught my ear. But, i guess when you record and album with Steve Albini, it's going to pique my interest. The UK act's new album "24-7 Rock Star Shit" is out next week on Wichita Recordings, and it's got that rough Albini flavor. Listen to "Year of Hate" below.

Every purchase made on Bandcamp today raises money for the Transgender Law Center, so i encourage you to pad your collections today. And while you're doing that, be sure to grab a new track from Grouper. "Children" was recorded while the artist was making the "Ruins" LP, but for some reason or another didn't make the record. But, it's available now. Listen below and go buy it here. Do something good today.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Man, it's been a long time since we last heard from Stefanie Franciotti's dreamy project Sleep ∞ Over (i saw her perform in a cold, damp warehouse on New Year's Eve way back in 2012), so new music from the artist is a welcome surprise this morning. "Don't Wanna Hide" is a sensual and slinky little R&B jam, and hopefully a harbinger of more music in the near future. Listen below.

Still super stoked about Liars' latest album "TFCF" later this month, and the band (now just consisting of front man Angus Andrew) is keeping that excitement up with the release of another track from the upcoming record. "The Grand Delusional" is an acoustic guitar driven tune that pulls from blues and lo-fi rock, smooshed and warbled and mutated all together. It's lovely. Listen below and get the record from Mute.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Did you know that The Dream Syndicate were back together? I didn't know The Dream Syndicate were back together. Anyway, The Dream Syndicate are back together...and they've got a new album coming out in September, their first in 29 years. Listen to the soaring "Glide" below and grab the "How Did I Find Myself Here?" record next month from Anti.